Name: Chicken Florentine Pizza
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 prepared whole wheat pizza crust or flatbread; 1 cup cooked, shredded or sliced chicken breast; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 cups fresh spinach leaves; 2 garlic cloves, minced; ½ cup ricotta cheese; ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese; ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese; Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional); Salt and black pepper, to taste

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Chicken florentine pizza was the first dinner that made me feel like I wasn’t failing.

It started on a messy Tuesday—two hungry kids, leftover chicken, and just enough spinach to pretend I had a plan. I spread ricotta on a flatbread, tossed it with garlic and parmesan, and hoped for the best.

It came out golden, cheesy, and quieted the table in the best way.

I’m Amanda—home cook, mom, and founder of this little corner of the internet where real food meets real life. I share recipes that work when you’re tired, rushed, or just need dinner to be easy and good.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Florentine Pizza

This chicken florentine pizza is everything dinner should be on a busy night: quick, hearty, and surprisingly satisfying. Whether you’re feeding a family or just yourself, this recipe fits right into real life.

It’s ready in under 30 minutes

From sauté to slice, this pizza moves fast. You can go from fridge to dinner table faster than your delivery app can load.

Balanced, high-protein, and veggie-packed

Thanks to lean chicken breast, creamy ricotta, and a whole layer of wilted spinach, it’s light but filling—and you’ll feel good about every bite.

Uses simple, wholesome ingredients

Nothing fancy here. Most of what you need might already be in your fridge. And if not, everything’s easy to find at any grocery store.

Family-friendly and weeknight approved

It’s mild, melty, and kid-tested. But it’s not boring—there’s garlic, parmesan, and just enough pepper to keep things interesting for grown-up taste buds, too.

Ingredients for Chicken Florentine Pizza

You don’t need much to make this pizza shine—just a handful of fresh, flavorful staples that work together beautifully. Below are the essentials, plus a few smart swaps if you’re working with what you’ve got.

What You’ll Need

1 prepared whole wheat pizza crust or flatbread – Naan or pita also work great
1 cup cooked, shredded or sliced chicken breast
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups fresh spinach leaves
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup ricotta cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Smart Swaps for Busy Nights

No ricotta? Try cottage cheese for a lighter texture.
Mozzarella can be subbed with fontina or provolone.
Use rotisserie chicken to skip the cooking step.

Ingredient Notes for Flavor Boost

Fresh garlic gives this pizza depth—don’t skip it.
Whole wheat crust adds fiber and crunch.
A sprinkle of lemon zest (optional) can brighten up the spinach layer beautifully.

🧭 If you like working with prepped protein, these diced chicken breast recipes offer more quick dinner inspiration.

How to Make Chicken Florentine Pizza

This is one of those recipes that feels fancy but couldn’t be easier. Six steps, one pan, one sheet, and zero stress.

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). This ensures the crust crisps up beautifully while the cheese melts to golden perfection.

Oven preheating for chicken florentine pizza

Step 2: Sauté the spinach

In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds, then stir in spinach. Cook until just wilted, 1–2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Garlic and spinach sautéed for chicken florentine pizza

Step 3: Assemble the base

Place your crust or flatbread on a baking sheet or pizza stone. Spread ricotta evenly over the surface, leaving a ½-inch border.

Ricotta base layer for chicken florentine pizza

Step 4: Layer the toppings

Top with your sautéed spinach, cooked chicken, shredded mozzarella, and parmesan. Add red pepper flakes if you like heat.

Topping chicken florentine pizza before baking

Step 5: Bake

Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the crust is crisp and the cheese is bubbling and lightly golden.

Chicken florentine pizza baking to golden perfection

Step 6: Slice and serve

Remove from oven, let rest 1–2 minutes, then slice and serve warm. The chicken florentine pizza is best eaten fresh, but leftovers reheat beautifully too.

Why This Recipe Works So Well

There’s a reason this pizza hits so many right notes—it’s built on balance. Creamy and crisp, hearty yet light, every layer has a job to do.

The creamy-spinach base

Wilting the spinach in garlic and olive oil before baking keeps it from turning soggy or bitter. It also helps it cling to the crust rather than slide around. The ricotta underneath gives it a mellow, creamy hug.

Ricotta + parmesan = crave-worthy contrast

Ricotta melts smooth and mild. Parmesan brings sharpness and salt. Together, they make every bite layered and satisfying without being heavy.

Garlic and olive oil = the flavor bridge

Sautéing the garlic first releases its sweetness and aroma. A little olive oil carries that flavor across the whole pizza—and ties the spinach and chicken together in a really natural way.

Whole wheat crust = crisp and wholesome

You get crunch and structure, but also a toasty, nutty flavor that makes this feel more like real food than takeout. Plus, whole wheat adds fiber and holds up well under toppings.

Chicken breast = light, lean protein

Using sliced or shredded chicken keeps the protein tender and juicy. It also makes the pizza feel hearty without weighing it down. If you want a boost of smoky depth, this grilled chicken margherita has similar flavors and would work beautifully in a chicken florentine pizza twist.

Real-Life Variations & Smart Twists

This recipe isn’t rigid. It’s a starting point. Whether you’re feeding picky eaters, eating meat-free, or just using what’s in your fridge, here are easy ways to make it work for you.

Vegetarian? No problem

Skip the chicken and add a handful of sautéed mushrooms or artichoke hearts. You’ll still get the rich spinach and ricotta combo—no flavor lost.

Make it mini with naan or pita

Turn this into personal pizzas with whole wheat naan or pita bread. It’s fun, fast, and perfect for picky eaters who like to build their own chicken florentine pizza version—veggie or not.

Extra creamy? Add béchamel

For a more indulgent texture, spread a thin layer of homemade béchamel beneath the ricotta. It melts into the crust and feels like grown-up comfort food.

Spicy Florentine (yes, please!)

Add a few spoonfuls of chopped Calabrian chili or a drizzle of hot honey before baking. It’s a game-changer.

Crust swaps for gluten-free folks

Use a store-bought cauliflower crust, or even a chickpea flatbread. If you want another weeknight win, these baked chicken bites also make a great side for any pizza night.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even simple recipes can go sideways. Here are a few easy slip-ups to steer clear of when making chicken florentine pizza—plus how to fix them before they happen.

Don’t overload the ricotta

It’s tempting, but too much ricotta will make your pizza soggy and bland. Spread a light, even layer so it melts into the crust instead of drowning it.

Be gentle with the spinach

Spinach cooks down fast. If you over-sauté it, you’ll end up with a limp, bitter mess. Just wilt it—about 1–2 minutes max is perfect.

Watch your crust crisp time

If you’re using a thicker flatbread or naan, it may need an extra 1–2 minutes in the oven. Undercooked crust = floppy disappointment, and that’s a sad ending for a good chicken florentine pizza.

Skip bland chicken (season it!)

Unseasoned chicken will flatten the flavor. Even if it’s leftover or rotisserie, add a pinch of salt, pepper, or a garlic rub before layering. This smoked chicken breast recipe has a bold flavor profile that works beautifully in this kind of pizza.

Your Chicken Florentine Pizza Questions, Answered

You’ve got questions. We’ve made this pizza more times than we can count—so here are the answers we wish we had when we started.

What is on a chicken Florentine pizza?

A traditional chicken florentine pizza features tender cooked chicken, wilted spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, garlic, and olive oil on a crisp crust. It’s creamy, savory, and incredibly comforting.

What is chicken Florentine made of?

Chicken Florentine typically includes sautéed chicken in a creamy spinach sauce, often with garlic, butter, and cheese. The pizza version simplifies that into a layered, baked dish that’s easy to prep any night of the week.

What goes on a Florentine pizza?

Florentine-style pizzas highlight spinach as the main topping, usually paired with creamy elements like ricotta or béchamel, plus cheese and garlic. Some versions stay vegetarian, but we love the heartiness chicken adds here.

What is the difference between chicken Florentine and Tuscan chicken?

Tuscan chicken usually features a cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, and sometimes white wine. Chicken Florentine leans into spinach and cheese. If you love bold flavors, this cajun chicken and rice has a more Tuscan-style heat you might also enjoy.

You don’t need a special occasion to make something comforting. You just need a few ingredients, a little heat, and ten quiet minutes at the table.

Whether you’re cooking for yourself or your people, this recipe is your permission slip to keep things simple and good. The dishes will wait. The laundry will wait. But that first bite—hot, melty, homemade? That moment is yours.

You’ve got this. And dinner? It’s already halfway done.

Craving more one-pot wonders? Find me on Facebook and Pinterest — real food, made for real life.